Le strategie di riduzione dell’impronta ecologica e il ruolo del settore privato. Prospettive euro-africane. Just energy transition in Africa: Eni’s role and Kenya’s perspective

This doctoral thesis investigates the role of the oil and gas sector in shaping a “just” energy transition in Africa, with a focused case study on Kenya’s emerging biofuels sector. Drawing on an International Political Economy (IPE) framework enriched by energy justice and political ecology perspectives, the research critically examines how global regimes and corporate structural power interact to influence policy and practice in resource rich contexts. Primary fieldwork—including interviews with governmental bodies, civil society organizations, Eni Kenya, SAFA aggregators, and IFC representatives—complements secondary analysis to map power asymmetries in knowledge, production, and finance dimensions. The thesis reveals that, while major oil and gas firms publicly commit to Paris aligned decarbonization goals, their strategies often prioritize reputational and economic interests over transformational justice outcomes. Eni’s Agri feedstock project in Kenya demonstrates both potential socioeconomic benefits for smallholder farmers and persistent challenges related to equitable benefit distribution, certification efficacy, and local capacity building. The study formulates policy and operational recommendations—spanning enhanced stakeholder engagement, rigorous monitoring of food security impacts, and adaptive certification criteria—to harness corporate agency for sustainable, inclusive value chains. By unpacking the conditions under which fossil fuel incumbents can contribute meaningfully to a just transition, this work contributes to critical IPE scholarship on resource governance and offers actionable insights for policymakers, industry actors, and development practitioners.